Apparatus system and method for remotely controlling a vehicle over a peer-to-peer network

Abstract

A system and method are used for controlling a vehicle remotely over a peer-to-peer network. A vehicle is provided with a vehicle control module configured to transmit and receive network communications containing vehicle control data. In one embodiment, the vehicle control module is configured to transmit and receive network switched packets wirelessly. Additionally, the vehicle may be provided with one or more cameras configured to transmit a two dimensional, three dimensional, or 360° panoramic view from the vehicle. The peer-to-peer network comprises a user interface apparatus, and one vehicle to be controlled. The user interface apparatus may be configured to resemble a steering wheel commonly used with computer game systems. Alternatively, the user interface apparatus may be configured with either control joysticks or miniature control wheels.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A vehicle controllable to move in a manner selectable remotely by a user in a peer-to-peer networking environment, the vehicle comprising: 
 a chassis configured to move in response to vehicle control data from a user;    a vehicle control module residing within the chassis configured to receive network switched packets containing the vehicle control data from a user in the peer-to-peer network; and    an actuator interface module configured to operate an actuator in response to the vehicle control data received by the vehicle control module.    
     
     
         2 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle control module is configured to transmit vehicle data feedback to a user.  
     
     
         3 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle control module is configured to transmit visual data to the user.  
     
     
         4 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle control module is configured to transmit a 360° three dimensional view to the user.  
     
     
         5 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator comprises a servo motor.  
     
     
         6 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle control module further comprises a wireless network interface connection.  
     
     
         7 . A handheld control apparatus from which a vehicle is remotely controlled in a peer-to-peer networking environment, the apparatus comprising: 
 a vehicle control module configured to generate vehicle control data in response to input from a user; and    a transmission module configured to communicate with the vehicle control module and transmit network switched packets containing the vehicle control data over a transmission medium to the vehicle.    
     
     
         8 . The handheld control apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the transmission medium comprises a wireless peer-to-peer network.  
     
     
         9 . The handheld control apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising a video screen configured to display a 360° three dimensional view.  
     
     
         10 . The handheld control apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the video screen is configured to display a portion of the 360° three dimensional view selectable by the user.  
     
     
         11 . The handheld control apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the vehicle control module comprises a joystick configured to generate vehicle control data.  
     
     
         12 . The handheld control apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the vehicle control module comprises a miniature wheel configured to generate vehicle control data.  
     
     
         13 . The handheld control apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the vehicle control module comprises a steering wheel configured to generate vehicle control data.  
     
     
         14 . A control apparatus for a vehicle controllable remotely over a peer-to-peer network, the apparatus comprising: 
 a network interface connection configured to transmit and receive vehicle control data;    a central processing unit configured to provide vehicle control data to the network interface connection; and    an actuator interface module configured to receive vehicle control data from the central processing unit.    
     
     
         15 . The control apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising a video interface module configured to communicate visual data to the central processing unit.  
     
     
         16 . The control apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising a video camera configured to provide visual data to the video interface module.  
     
     
         17 . The control apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the video interface module is configured to transmit a 360° three dimensional view.  
     
     
         18 . The control apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising a Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) interface module residing within the central processing unit and configured to operate an actuator.  
     
     
         19 . The control apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising a web-based interface module residing within the central processing unit and configured to operate an actuator.  
     
     
         20 . A peer-to-peer network for communicating with a vehicle operating under remote control, the network comprising: 
 a handheld control apparatus;    a network interface connection residing within the handheld control apparatus; and    a user interface vehicle control module configured to communicate over the network with a central processing unit of a remotely controlled vehicle.    
     
     
         21 . The peer-to-peer network of  claim 20 , wherein the network interface connection comprises a wireless network connection configured to transmit and receive network switched packets.  
     
     
         22 . A method of controlling a mobile vehicle over a network, comprising: 
 providing a vehicle control module configured to transmit and receive vehicle control data over the network;    providing a handheld control apparatus configured to transmit and receive vehicle control data over the network;    transmitting vehicle control data;    controlling the mobile vehicle in response to the transmitted vehicle control data; and    receiving vehicle feedback data from the vehicle.    
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein transmitting vehicle control data further comprises transmitting network switched packets.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the vehicle feedback data comprises vehicle performance parameters including speed, revolutions per minute (RPM), engine temperature, visual data, audible data.  
     
     
         25 . A computer usable medium readable by a computer, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by a computer to perform a method for controlling a mobile vehicle over a peer-to-peer network, the method comprising: 
 transmitting vehicle control data over a digital peer-to-peer network;    controlling the vehicle using the control data; and    receiving vehicle feedback data from the vehicle.    
     
     
         26 . A mobile vehicle controllable over a network, the vehicle comprising: 
 means for moving the vehicle in response to vehicle control data from a user;    means for transmitting and receiving network switched packets containing the vehicle control data over a peer-to-peer network; and    means for operating an actuator in response to the received vehicle control data.